Americana Updates

1. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass unveils its 2026 lineup

San Francisco’s free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival announced its first performers for October 2–4 in Golden Gate Park, including AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kathleen Edwards, and Old Crow Medicine Show. The festival also announced an October 1 Steve Earle tribute benefit featuring Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Elizabeth Cook, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, and others. ABC7 / Bay City News⁠

2. IBMA announces 2026 Industry and Momentum Award nominees

The International Bluegrass Music Association released its nominee slate for awards recognizing both behind-the-scenes contributors and emerging artists. Momentum Band of the Year nominees include The Creekers, ShadowGrass, Remedy Tree, The Cody Sisters, and Under the Rocks; winners will be announced during the World of Bluegrass convention. Bluegrass Today⁠

3. Charles Wesley Godwin’s Christian Name receives new Americana coverage

A July 22 review examined Charles Wesley Godwin’s Christian Name, an album rooted in grief, faith, and recovery. It includes collaborations with Luke Combs and Wyatt Flores, was produced by Al Torrence, and takes its title and cover-art inspiration from Godwin’s late grandfather, a Methodist preacher. Americana Highways⁠

4. Louisa Branscomb’s “Steel Rails” lands in an HBO documentary

Songwriter Louisa Branscomb’s “Steel Rails” was set to appear in the third episode of HBO’s The Man Will Burn on July 23. The song was written in 1971, first released by Branscomb in 1977, and has also been recorded by Alison Krauss, John Denver, and Mel Tillis. Bluegrass Today⁠

5. Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars receives a globalFEST touring grant

New Orleans band Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars was named one of six recipients of the revived globalFEST Touring Fund, which supports artists’ touring costs. The group, which performs original New Orleans R&B dance-hall music and Creole jazz, was scheduled to tour from July through October. OffBeat⁠ · globalFEST announcement⁠